Which certification is best for a system administrator?

The best certification for a system administrator is the Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert (MCSE) certification. However, there are a number of well-respected professional certifications that a person can pursue in this field that will make them a desirable candidate for a role as a system administrator.

How To Become A Senior System Administrator: What It Is and Career Path

What is a senior system administrator and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Quoted Expert

Dr. Ariful Azad Ph.D.

A senior system administrator manages and maintains the technological systems within an organization. They oversee the installation, configuration, and maintenance of hardware and software, as well as troubleshoot and resolve technical issues. Senior system administrators manage security and create backup systems in case of data loss. They collaborate with other IT professionals to integrate systems properly. Overall, a senior system administrator ensures the smooth operation of an organization's technological infrastructure.

What general advice would you give to a Senior System Administrator?

Dr. Ariful Azad Ph.D.

Director of Graduate Studies for the Dept. of Intelligent Systems Engineering, Assistant Professor of Intelligent Systems Engineering, Indiana University Bloomington

Look for a job that you would enjoy doing, even if it takes some time to find such a position. Internships are great to explore various options.

ScoreSenior System AdministratorUS Average

Salary

7.6

Avg. Salary $98,146

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability Level

5.7

Growth Rate 5%

Growth Rate 0.3%

Diversity

3.7

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.31%

Asian 11.83%

Black or African American 8.87%

Hispanic or Latino 12.55%

Unknown 5.08%

White 61.36%

Gender

female 10.97%

male 89.03%

Age - 42

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 42

Stress Level

5.7

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity Level

6.7

Complexity Level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work Life Balance

7.1

Work Life balance is good

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being a Senior System Administrator?

Pros

High salary and benefits
Job security and demand
Flexibility in work schedule
Opportunity to work remotely
Possibility to specialize in specific areas

Cons

Long and irregular working hours
Constant need to learn and update skills
Limited time for personal life and hobbies
Potential for burnout or health issues
Limited interaction with non-technical colleagues or customers

Key steps to become a senior system administrator

Explore senior system administrator education requirements

Most common senior system administrator degrees

Bachelor's

62.0 %

Associate

21.1 %

Master's

10.9 %

Start to develop specific senior system administrator skills

Skills	Percentages
Linux	7.38%
Windows Server	5.80%
Troubleshoot	5.50%
System Administration	4.19%
PowerShell	3.94%

Complete relevant senior system administrator training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 3-6 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New senior system administrators learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a senior system administrator based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real senior system administrator resumes.

Gain additional senior system administrator certifications

Senior system administrator certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific senior system administrator certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

The most common certifications for senior system administrators include Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE) and VMware Certified Professional 5 - Data Center Virtualization (VCP5-DCV).

More About Certifications

Research senior system administrator duties and responsibilities

Manage and optimize the design and delivery of project associate with AIX arena.
Manage all installs and setup of new servers, and server upgrades to server 2008 R2.
Implement IIS servers for both the internal and external web servers and managing security on all web servers.
Design, implement, and manage a network and domain extension in a remote location via a secure VPN link.

Get senior system administrator experience

Generally, it takes 1-2 years to become a senior system administrator. The most common roles before becoming a senior system administrator include systems administrator, network administrator team lead and systems engineer.

Prepare your senior system administrator resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your senior system administrator resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a senior system administrator resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose From 10+ Customizable Senior System Administrator Resume templates

Build a professional Senior System Administrator resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your Senior System Administrator resume.

Apply for senior system administrator jobs

Now it's time to start searching for a senior system administrator job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

Browse job boards for relevant postings
Consult your professional network
Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
Watch out for job scams

Average senior system administrator salary

The average Senior System Administrator salary in the United States is $98,146 per year or $47 per hour. Senior system administrator salaries range between $75,000 and $126,000 per year.

Average Senior System Administrator Salary

$98,146 Yearly

$47.19 hourly

How do senior system administrators rate their job?

-/5

5 Stars

4 Stars

3 Stars

2 Stars

1 Star

Senior System Administrator reviews

A zippia user wrote a review on Jan 2020

Pros

New challenges in medical working environment

Cons

every day i learn new think,because i have background of computer science and i have to taring the non IT technical awareness staff

A zippia user wrote a review on Nov 2019